Rekindled Dreams (Moon Child) by Janet Lane Walters

is Simon. Simon, Madge. He volunteered to give me a man’s view of the houses. Madge is the birthing partner who missed the big event. She’s doing penance. Bottle’s in the fridge. She will drink from it. We practiced.”
    Simon passed Jenny to Madge. “See you later.”
    At the car, Dana handed him the keys. “You drive. I’ll co-pilot.”
    “Are you sure? I did grow up here.”
    “Place has changed.”
    “Got you. Where?”
    “At the entrance turn left.” She gave directions a street at a time.
    The realtor met them at the first house. Before long they moved to the second one. After walking through the house they returned to the car. Dana turned to Simon. “What do you think?”
    “Neither. Both need too much work.”
    The third house was empty. As they walked through the realtor showed them the small attached apartment. “You could rent it and help with the payments.”
    Dana shrugged. “Something to consider.”
    Simon had a different idea. At the car he opened the passenger’s door. “The apartment could be converted to office space.”
    “That’s a thought. Though I liked the basement family room I wouldn’t want my office down there. I could use one of the bedrooms. Would renovation be expensive?”
    “Don’t know.”
    The fourth house was smaller and would work if the attached garage became an office. The large fenced-in yard was a plus. “What do you think?” Dana asked.
    “Not my place to decide. Depends on if you’re willing to give up the heated garage or sacrifice some of the yard.” He clasped her hand. “You’re the buyer.”
    “Tell me, please.”
    Simon drew a deep breath. “Both houses are structurally sound. You could turn one of the three bedrooms into an office. The fourth house has that apartment.”
    "This house has a fenced yard.”
    He nodded. “And part of the yard at house three could be fenced. Could come down to price. What now?”
    “Think of pluses and minuses. List the monster house for sale.”
    “If you need money for a binder, I have a few thousand I could loan you.”
    “I’m fine, but thanks.”
    When they reached the house, Jenny was awake and lying on a quilt in the family room floor. Madge rose. “She likes the bells and she took the bottle."
    Simon crouched beside the quilt. He picked her up. “She’s wet.” He carried her to the couch and managed to change her.
    When Dana returned from seeing her friend off, Simon rose. “I should go.”
    “Do you have plans?”
    “No.”
    “I asked Madge if she could stay while I grocery shop but she can’t. Could you stay? I’ll feed you dinner.”
    “What if she cries?”
    “There’s a bottle in the fridge. You’ll need to warm it a bit but I should be back in time.”
    “I could do the shopping.”
    “Not on a bet.” She grinned. “There are things on my list you wouldn’t want to buy.”
    “Got you.” The pink on her cheeks made him grin. “Go. We’ll be fine.”
    When she left he sat on the quilt and dangled the bells close enough for Jenny to bat. She smiled and his heart contracted the way it had the first time he’d seen her. She played awhile longer and yawned. He carried her to the couch and held her until she slept before taking her to the cradle.
    Simon returned to the couch. He knew what he wanted. Dana, Jenny and a family. If only he could keep from making another mistake. He needed patience, something he’d never learned to cultivate.
    When Dana returned home Simon helped her unload the groceries. “What do you think about taking a picnic lunch to Fern Lake tomorrow? Temp’s supposed to be in the eighties.”
    “I’d like that. I’ll pack the lunch.” She put some packages in the freezer. “You can be in charge of drinks.”
    Simon frowned. Why did he think this was a test he hoped he would pass? “Will do. Any suggestions?”
    “Your choice.” Dana walked to the family room. “She give you any trouble.”
    “She smiled.”
    “Probably gas.”
    “Naw, she